This entry was posted on Aug 6, 2025 by Charlotte Bell.
Why observe yoga? There’s a multitude of various solutions to this query. As with every longterm relationship, over time, our observe evolves; it ebbs and flows. Generally our observe feels recent and important; different occasions it could really feel as if we’ve hit a plateau. At occasions we could drop the observe for some time, and at others we could look ahead to stepping onto the mat or sitting on our meditation cushion. It may be useful to recollect why we determined to prioritize yoga observe within the first place. Reflecting on our preliminary motivation to observe may also help us preserve not solely consistency, but additionally inspiration.
3 Suggestions for Growing Motivation to Apply
Once I take a look at my motivation to observe, I’ve discovered that it’s actually easy. I observe as a result of after 37 years of meditation and 43 years of yoga, I acknowledge the immeasurable worth they convey to my life. I don’t observe as a result of some terrible hurt would befall me if I don’t. It’s not merely one thing I’ve added to my every day to-do record. It’s not a ought to. I belief the observe. I think about the observe. And it’s not blind religion, however a religion that’s been verified via a long time of expertise.
How will we develop motivation to observe? Whether or not our core observe is yoga or meditation, we regularly must be reminded why we’re doing it. Listed below are some ideas for staying on the trail:
- Consider your observe as a part of your morning ritual, a method to preserve the well being of your physique/thoughts. We don’t assume twice about consuming an honest breakfast, brushing our enamel, showering, and so forth. Yoga and meditation practices are they methods we convey equilibrium to our our bodies and minds.
- Whenever you put aside the time to observe, give it your full consideration. You’ve received loads of time to go over your to-do record, or to mirror on that tough dialog you had with somebody yesterday. You’ve received time to formulate your reply to that individual—later. Use your observe time to speculate your full consciousness into what you are feeling in your physique and thoughts, right here and now. Your observe time is valuable. It deserves your consideration and care.
- Replicate on the worth of your observe in your every day life. In line with the yoga sutras, the advantage of asana observe is the cultivation of equanimity within the face of the ups and downs of our lives. This will apply to minute every day annoyances, or it may well apply to main challenges and losses. The advantages may be refined or apparent. What advantages have you ever skilled? Reflecting on this will remind you why you observe and may also help you keep motivated.
Belief Your Yoga and Meditation Practices
Reflecting on the worth of observe in your life may be tough. Whereas there are advantages you possibly can really feel immediately if you observe yoga and meditation, a few of the deeper advantages are refined. That is the place reflecting on the millennia-long historical past of those practices may be useful. Yoga and meditation have survived for 1000’s of years. They’ve survived as a result of thousands and thousands of individuals have reaped their advantages. So even when you’re simply beginning out, and the advantages you expertise are on the subtler facet, belief the method. Method your observe with an open, curious thoughts. Replicate on why you like your observe. Then seize your meditation cushion or your yoga mat, open your thoughts and see the place your observe takes you in the present day.
About Charlotte Bell
Charlotte Bell found yoga in 1982 and commenced instructing in 1986. Charlotte is the writer of Aware Yoga, Aware Life: A Information for On a regular basis Apply and Yoga for Meditators, each printed by Rodmell Press. Her third e-book is titled Hip-Wholesome Asana: The Yoga Practitioner’s Information to Defending the Hips and Avoiding SI Joint Ache (Shambhala Publications). She writes a month-to-month column for CATALYST Journal and serves as editor for Yoga U On-line. Charlotte is a founding board member for GreenTREE Yoga, a non-profit that brings yoga to underserved populations. A lifelong musician, Charlotte performs oboe and English horn within the Salt Lake Symphony and people sextet Purple Rock Rondo, whose DVD gained two Emmy awards.
